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Posted by Kellyn Lopes & Patrick O'Herron

Facebook has long been praised for its exemplary “hacker culture” and drive for innovation in the tech sector, but did you know that corporate artworks also shape the company’s attitudes and brands? A recent look at the murals in Facebook’s Menlo Park, CA campus and many offices show how the arts work to inspire employees and enhance the corporate culture. Many graffiti artists, painters, sculptors and designers have left their mark on the office spaces. (Photo credit: Brand new whimsical sculpture by Thomas Wold being installed; courtesy of ArtBusiness.com.)

Facebook has an active Artist-in-Residence program. Artist Drew Bennett, curator of the program who spent a residency at Facebook, says, “It’s a visual and a physical manifestation of what’s happening on the computers. You could just present your values on a piece of paper. But inviting a diverse group of independent artists to work alongside us is a more genuine expression of that creative process.”

The mission of Facebook's Artist-in-Residence program is to create a corporate environment rich in art, and more specifically, rich in a way that positively impacts the work experience. The company views a workplace filled with art and access to artists as a positive, value-add for employees.

Through the Artist-in-Residence program, artists are hired and treated much like other Facebook employees. Resdencies range between four and sixteen weeks, providing the artists freedom to build and paint what they wish.

At Facebook's headquarters, art is installed in reception areas, hallways, stairwells, on the surfaces of floors, hanging from ceilings, and even some of the furnishings and decorations have been made by artists. Employees are continually exposed to new works and outlets for inspiration and creativity. (Photo credit: Light well paper installation by Val Britton; courtesy of ArtBusiness.com.)

As the Facebook Artist-in-Residence program grows and evolves, the company hopes to see whether an art dense environment can create measurable benefits for everyone involved, both artists and employees. So far, the answer appears to be a resounding yes.

Find more information and see more visuals from Facebook's Artist-in-Residence program at the following links:

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